1. Divided the empire into 4 provinces
2. Reformed the tax system
3. Peasants became serfs, sold with the land
4. Everyone frozen in place
5. Last great persecution of Christians in effort to unify the empire

II. Constantine: 312 -337

A. Son of Constantius, one of Diocletians' tetrarchy

1. Defeated his rivals in 312: Battle of the Milvan Bridge
2. Vision of the cross: "By this sign you will conquer"
3. Converts to Christianity
4. Issues Edict of Milan 313: tolerance to Christians extended throughout the empire
5. Vast church building program begins
6. Moves capital to Constantinople 324

B. Thereafter, Christianity becomes not just tolerated, but the favored religion

a. Constantine is head of the church
b. There is one truth which must be decided
c. Christianity now is the Roman Empire: divided into dioceses, headed by bishops, tax system to fund churchs,
and system to instruct everyone in correct belief
d. No longer heroic to be a Christian but rather, financially advantagious
e. Beginnings of monasticism: the "white martyrdom"

III. The Roman Empire and Christianity: 325-400

A. Theodosius outlaws all other forms of religion, and only one form of Christianity, in 395
B. Altar of Victory removed from Senate along with other pagan symbols
C. Major invasions of other groups culminate with the sack of Rome 410
D. Augustine begins writing the City of God in 413